The Book Club

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Back of the Book

Mary Alice Monroe invites you to meet five remarkable characters as she explores the power of friendship with tenderness, honesty and understanding.

On the surface, it is a monthly book club. But for five women, it is so much more. For Eve Porter, whose husband's sudden death cheats her of every security she had planned on, the club is a place of sanctuary. For Annie Blake, a brilliant attorney intent on starting a family late in life, it is the chance to finally let down her guard and dream of other possibilities. For Doris Bridges, it is her support group as she acknowledges her dying marriage and finds the ultimate freedom in her husband's betrayal. For Gabriella Rivera, the "perfect" wife, mother and friend who offers support to everyone but is afraid to ask for it herself, it is a sense of community. And for Midge Kirsch, an artist who has always lived her life against the grain, it is a haven of acceptance.

They are five women from different walks of life, embracing the challenge of change. And as they share their hopes and fears and triumphs, they will hold fast to the true magic of the book clubfriendship.

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Mary Alice Monroe's Bio

New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe found her true calling in environmental fiction when she moved to coastal South Carolina.

Already a successful author with six books to her credit, she was captivated by the beautyand fragilityof her new home. Her experiences living in the midst of a habitat that was quickly changing gave her a strong and important focus for her books.

Since then, she has explored the problems of endangered sea turtles (The Beach House), raptors (Skyward) and the indigenous grass and endangered ecosystem (Sweetgrass). In Swimming Lessons, her new novel and a sequel to The Beach House, Mary Alice returns to the southeastern coast to explore the rehabilitation of injured and sick sea turtles.

Mary Alice is an active conservationist. She is a dedicated member of the Isle of Palms/Sullivan's Island Turtle Team, a volunteer at the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey, and she serves on the Board of the South Carolina Aquarium. A source of pride for Mary Alice is the fact that thousands of dollars have been raised to support environmental causes, specifically through her books.

Mary Alice continues to write richly textured books that delve into the complexities of the human psyche and the parallels between the land and life. Her ten novels are published worldwide and have won acclaim and awards. She also has the honor of being a four-time RITA Award finalist, she's published her first children's book, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and private events. Mary Alice lives with her family on a barrier island off South Carolina.